Equipment power management system

ABSTRACT

An equipment power management system in accordance with the present invention has a plurality of electrical devices and a control device. The electrical devices can operate in any one of multiple operational states different from each other in power consumption of a commercial power source. The control device switches the operational state of an electrical device to that of a smaller power consumption of the commercial power source in ascending order from the electrical device of the lowest priority when a receiving power amount of the whole equipment including the plurality of electrical devices exceeds a first threshold value until the receiving power amount falls below a second threshold value which is lower than or equal to the first threshold value.

This present application is a divisional application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/253,752 filed on Oct. 5, 2011, which claimspriority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-238094, filed on Oct.25, 2010 in Japan, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

1. TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to equipment power management systems and,in particular, to an equipment power management system for managing thereceiving power amount of the whole equipment including a plurality ofelectrical devices.

2. BACKGROUND ART

The power consumption of the whole equipment including a plurality ofelectrical devices increases and decreases according to the operationcondition of each electrical device.

The amount of the maximum power consumption which increases anddecreases is referred to as the peak power amount, and the time periodwhen the peak power amount appears is referred to as the peak power timeperiod. The basic rate of a commercial power supply is set according tothe peak power amount. Therefore, for equipment utilizing a commercialpower supply, it is important to reduce the peak power amount for costreduction.

With respect to the technology of reducing the peak power amount of thewhole equipment including a plurality of electrical devices, as relatedarts for example, the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2are publicly known.

Of the two documents, Patent Document 1 discloses a power receivingsystem for controlling the electric power of the whole equipment of afactory, a standard family or the like where various electrical devicesare installed such as electronic devices and the like. This powerreceiving system includes an AC power storage unit, a switch unit forswitching between the AC power storage unit and a commercial powersource, and a control device for controlling the switch unit bydetecting the receiving power amount. This power receiving system takesthe commercial power source alone as the power supply source when thefull load of the equipment does not exceed the contract power amount,and makes up the insufficient amount of the receiving power for the loadfrom the AC power storage unit when the receiving power of the equipmentis about to exceed the contract power amount. By virtue of this, thepower amount received from the commercial power source is restrainedunder the contract power amount. Further, when the full load fluctuatesunder the contract power amount after the peak power time period, thereceiving power is utilized to charge the AC power storage unit whilesupplying power to the full load of the equipment. By virtue of this, itis possible to get prepared for dealing with the power peak of the nextday with the charged AC power storage unit without the power consumptiondue to discharging beyond the time period of the peak power consumption.

Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a power management system composedof a plurality of client computers and a management server. According toan instruction from the management server, each client computer can beswitched from a state of being operated by an external power supply to astate of being operated by a built-in secondary battery, and vice versa.Further, according to another instruction from the management server,each client computer controls whether or not to allow the external powersupply to charge the battery. The management server carries out thefollowing controls based on the power load information received from thepower company.

The power load information shows a temporal load change of the powersupplied by the power company. The management server notifies all clientcomputers of the prohibitions of charging the secondary battery andutilizing the external power supply during the time period when thepower load exceeds a second threshold value. According to thisnotification, each client computer operates on the secondary battery,and stops charging the same. Further, the management server notifies allclient computers of the permission of charging the secondary battery andthe prohibition of utilizing the external power supply during the timeperiod when the power load is lower than or equal to the secondthreshold value but higher than a first threshold value. According tothis notification, each client computer operates on the secondarybattery, and charges the same with the external power supply.Furthermore, the management server notifies all client computers of thepermissions of charging the secondary battery and utilizing the externalpower supply during the time period when the power load is lower than orequal to the first threshold value. According to this notification, eachclient computer operates on the external power supply, and charges thesecondary battery as necessary with the external power supply.

Further, in order to prevent the peak power from changing rapidly, themanagement server divides the plurality of client computers into anumber of groups, and sends the above notification to each group atdifferent times. For the same reason, the plurality of client computersbelonging to the same group having received the above notification carryout a control corresponding to the notification with a time lag betweenthe times different from each other.

On the other hand, for example, Patent Document 3 discloses anelectrical device with a function of reducing the peak powerautonomously. This electrical device described in Patent Document 3realizes the reduction of the power supply amount from a power supplyunit during the peak time period by optimizing the power consumptionsbetween the power supply unit and a secondary battery. In particular,Patent Document 3 exemplarily shows a computer device as an example ofthe electrical device, and describes the performance of the followingcontrol.

First, the computer device is composed of a number of subsystems such asa CPU, hard disks, an inverter, and the like. Next, at the start time ofthe peak power reduction period (at 13:00, for instance), all of thesubsystems constituting the computer device transit to the first stageat which the power is supplied from the secondary battery. Then, thesustaining time of the secondary battery is calculated from thedischarge current and remaining level of the secondary battery todetermine whether or not the secondary battery is sustainable until theend time of the peak power reduction period. If sustainable, then thefirst stage is maintained. If not, then the device proceeds to the nextsecond stage.

At the second stage, the discharge current of the secondary battery isdecreased by changing the power supply source for some of the subsystems(the inverter, for instance) from the secondary battery to the powersupply unit. Then, the sustaining time of the secondary battery iscalculated from the discharge current and remaining level of thesecondary battery to determine whether or not the secondary battery issustainable until the end time of the peak power reduction period. Ifsustainable, then the second stage is maintained. If not, then thedevice proceeds to the next third stage.

At the third stage, the discharge current of the secondary battery isfurther decreased by changing the CPU to a low-speed mode. Then, thesustaining time of the secondary battery is calculated from thedischarge current and remaining level of the secondary battery todetermine whether or not the secondary battery is sustainable until theend time of the peak power reduction period. If sustainable, then thethird stage is maintained. If not, then the device proceeds to the nextforth stage.

At the forth stage, the discharge current of the secondary battery isfurther decreased by changing the power supply source for the CPU fromthe secondary battery to the power supply unit. At the same time, theCPU is returned from the low-speed mode to the normal mode. Then, thesustaining time of the secondary battery is calculated from thedischarge current and remaining level of the secondary battery todetermine whether or not the secondary battery is sustainable until theend time of the peak power reduction period. If sustainable, then theforth stage is maintained. If not, then the device proceeds to the nextfifth stage (the final stage).

At the fifth stage, the power supply unit is utilized as the powersupply source for all subsystems of the computer.

[Patent Document 1] JP 2006-230147 A

[Patent Document 2] JP 2004-180404 A

[Patent Document 3] JP 2003-150281 A

With respect to equipment including a plurality of electrical devices,it is possible to reduce the peak power amount of the whole equipment byproviding each electrical device with a peak power reduction functionsuch as that described in Patent Document 3. However, it is difficult toset a certain threshold value for the upper limit of the peak poweramount such that the peak power amount of the whole equipment may notexceed the upper threshold value through the method of autonomouslycontrolling each electrical device. Therefore, it is necessary to set upa mechanism for managing the power amount of the whole equipment as seenin Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2.

Nevertheless, it is indispensable to provide the power receiving systemdescribed in Patent Document 1 with a large-scale device such as the ACpower storage unit. On the other hand, although the power managementsystem described in Patent Document 2 does not need a large-scale deviceof this kind, electrical devices of high priority and low priorityincluded in the equipment are treated indiscriminately as the peak powerreduction objects. In general, reducing the peak power of electricaldevices will cause the electrical devices to lower their performances.Therefore, when reducing the peak power amount of the whole equipment inthe power management system described in Patent Document 2, theperformance of the electrical devices of high priority is lowered in thesame manner as that of the electrical devices of low priority.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, an exemplary object of the present invention is toprovide an equipment power management system for solving the aboveproblem, that is, when reducing the peak power amount of the wholeequipment, the performance of the electrical devices of high priorityincluded in the equipment is lowered in the same manner as that of theelectrical devices of low priority.

An aspect in accordance with the present invention provides an equipmentpower management system including: a plurality of electrical devicesoperable in any one of multiple operational states different from eachother in power consumption of a commercial power source; and a controldevice for switching the operational state of an electrical device tothat of a smaller power consumption of the commercial power source inascending order from the electrical device of the lowest priority when areceiving power amount of the whole equipment including the plurality ofelectrical devices exceeds a first threshold value until the receivingpower amount falls below a second threshold value which is lower than orequal to the first threshold value.

Another aspect in accordance with the present invention provides anequipment power management method to be carried out by a control deviceconnected through a communication cable with a plurality of electricaldevices operable in any one of multiple operational states differentfrom each other in power consumption of a commercial power source, themethod including switching the operational state of an electrical deviceto that of a smaller power consumption of the commercial power source inascending order from the electrical device of the lowest priority when areceiving power amount of the whole equipment including the plurality ofelectrical devices exceeds a first threshold value until the receivingpower amount falls below a second threshold value which is lower than orequal to the first threshold value.

Still another aspect in accordance with the present invention provides acontrol device including: a communication interface unit for carryingout communications with a plurality of electrical devices operable inany one of multiple operational states different from each other inpower consumption of a commercial power source; and a power reductioncontrol unit for switching the operational state of an electrical deviceto that of a smaller power consumption of the commercial power source inascending order from the electrical device of the lowest priority when areceiving power amount of the whole equipment including the plurality ofelectrical devices exceeds a first threshold value until the receivingpower amount falls below a second threshold value which is lower than orequal to the first threshold value.

Because the present invention adopts the configurations as describedhereinabove, when reducing the peak power amount of the whole equipment,it is possible to prevent the electrical devices of high priorityincluded in the equipment from lowering their performance in the samemanner as those of low priority.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an equipment power management system inaccordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing example of a control devicein the equipment power management system in accordance with the firstexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the operational statetransition of electrical devices in the equipment power managementsystem in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control device in an equipment powermanagement system in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the state information ofelectrical devices held by the control device in the equipment powermanagement system in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the electrical devices in the equipmentpower management system in accordance with the second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Next, referring to the accompanying drawings, descriptions will be madein detail with respect to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention.

A First Exemplary Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 1, an equipment power management system in accordancewith a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention has aplurality of electrical devices 10, a control device 11 for controllingthe receiving power amount of the whole equipment, and a power meter 14.

Each electrical device 10 is an IT device having a computer such as aserver device having a CPU and memory, a storage device, a networkdevice, or the like. The plurality of electrical devices 10 may beeither IT devices of the same kind or IT devices of different kindsmixed together. Further, electrical devices other than IT devices may aswell be included.

The electrical devices 10 are operated by the power supplied from acommercial power source 12 through a power cable 13. Further, theelectrical devices 10 are connected to the control device 11 through acommunication cable 16. The electrical devices 10 have a function to beoperable in any of a plurality of operational states different in powerconsumption of the commercial power source 12. Further, the electricaldevices 10 have a function to operate in an operational state instructedby a control signal received from the control device 11 through thecommunication cable 16.

One operational state of the electrical devices 10 is to operatenormally with the commercial power source 12 as the power source. Tooperate normally means to operate in a normal mode which is not a lowpower consumption mode. This operational mode will be referred to as thenormal operational state hereinbelow.

Further, another operational state of the electrical devices 10 is tooperate in a low power consumption mode with the commercial power source12, for example, as the power source. This operational state will bereferred to as the low power consumption operational state hereinbelow.

Further, still another operational state of the electrical devices 10 isto operate in the low power consumption mode with a secondary battery,for example, as the power source. This operational state will bereferred to as the secondary battery operational state hereinbelow.Herein, the state of operating an electrical device 10 with thesecondary battery includes a state of supplying all the power for theelectrical device 10 from the secondary battery, and a state ofsupplying a part of the power for the electrical device 10 from thecommercial power source 12, and the rest from the secondary battery. Inthe first exemplary embodiment, the former state (the state of supplyingall the power for the electrical device 10 from the secondary battery)is utilized. However, the latter state (the state of supplying a part ofthe power for the electrical device 10 from the commercial power source12, and the rest from the secondary battery) may as well be utilized.

In general, the power amount of the commercial power source 12 consumedby the electrical devices 10 becomes the largest in the normaloperational state, the second largest in the low power consumptionoperational state, and the smallest or the least in the secondarybattery operational state.

The electrical devices 10 need to have a least two operational statesdifferent in power consumption of the commercial power source 12. Forexample, the electrical devices 10 may have the two of the normaloperational state and the low power consumption operational state.Further, the electrical devices 10 may as well have the two of thenormal operational state and the secondary battery operational state.Further, the electrical devices 10 may as well have the three of thenormal operational state, the low power consumption operational state,and the secondary battery operational state. Furthermore, the electricaldevices 10 may as well have more than three operational states differentin power consumption of the commercial power source 12.

The power meter 14 measures the receiving power amount of the wholeequipment. The power meter 14 is connected with the control device 11through a communication cable 15. The power meter 14 periodicallynotifies the control device 11 of the measured receiving power amountthrough the communication cable 15. Hereinbelow, P will be introduced toindicate the receiving power amount of the whole equipment measured withthe power meter 14.

The control device 11 is connected with the power meter 14 through thecommunication cable 15 and with each electrical device 10 through thecommunication cable 16. The control device 11 has a function to comparethe receiving power amount P received from the power meter 14 throughthe communication cable 15 with a preset first threshold value P1.Further, the control device 11 has a function to repeat a predeterminedprocess until the receiving power amount P falls below a secondthreshold value P2 when the above compared result shows that thereceiving power amount P of the whole equipment exceeds the firstthreshold value P1. The second threshold value P2 is set to be the samevalue as the first threshold value P1, or a value smaller than the firstthreshold value P1 by a preset value X as an allowance.

The aforementioned predetermined process refers to a process forselecting an electrical device 10 as the power reduction object from theelectrical devices 10 operating in an operational state other than thatof the least power consumption of the commercial power source 12, andsending a control signal to the selected electrical device 10 throughthe communication cable 16 to switch the operational state of thatelectrical device 10 to that of a smaller power consumption of thecommercial power source 12.

When selecting an electrical device 10 as the object of power reduction,the control device 11 selects the electrical device 10 of the lowestpriority from the electrical devices 10 operating in an operationalstate other than that of the least power consumption of the commercialpower source 12. Further, when there are a plurality of electricaldevices 10 of the lowest priority, the control device 11 preferentiallyselects the electrical device 10 operating in the operational state ofthe largest power consumption of the commercial power source 12. Forexample, suppose there are ten electrical devices 10 of the lowestpriority in total among the electrical devices 10 operating in anoperational state other than that of the least power consumption of thecommercial power source 12. Further, suppose six out of those tenelectrical devices 10 are operating in the normal operational state, andthe remaining four are operating in the low power consumptionoperational state. In this case, the electrical device as the reductionobject is preferentially selected from the six operating in the normaloperational state. At the time, an arbitrary method may be employed toselect the electrical device as the reduction object from the sixcandidates. For example, any one of those electrical devices 10 may beselected on a random basis. Further, the electrical device 10 of theleast load may be preferentially selected. Further, the electricaldevice 10 with the secondary battery at the highest remaining batterylevel may as well be preferentially selected.

Each time the aforementioned predetermined process is carried out, thenumber of the electrical devices 10 to be selected as the object ofpower reduction may be either one or more than one.

Further, the control device 11 may as well classify the electricaldevices of an identical priority into an identical group and, inselecting the aforementioned reduction object, select one, more thanone, or all of the electrical devices operating in an operational stateof a larger power consumption of the commercial power source from thoseincluded in the group of the electrical devices of the lowest priorityamong the electrical devices 10 operating in an operational state otherthan that of the least power consumption of the commercial power source.For example, suppose there are two priorities: the high priority and thelow priority; the high-priority group includes five electrical deviceswhile the low-priority group includes ten electrical devices. Further,suppose the five electrical devices included in the high-priority groupare all operating in the normal operational state. Further, suppose theten electrical devices included in the low-priority group are alloperating in the low power consumption operational state. In this case,the control device 11 selects one, more than one, or all as theobject(s) of power reduction from the ten electrical devices of thelow-priority group operating in the low power consumption operationalstate.

The priorities of the electrical devices 10 may be predetermined asfixed values. Further, the priorities of the electrical devices 10 mayas well be variable values revised periodically. In either case,reducing the power amount of the commercial power source 12 consumed byan electrical device 10 causes the electrical device 10 to lower itsperformance. Therefore, it is necessary to assign a comparatively highpriority to the electrical devices 10 the performance of which is notdesirably to be lowered.

Further, the priority of an electrical device 10 which is an IT devicemay as well be a value determined according to the service level of theapplication program executed by the computer constituting that ITdevice. For example, suppose there are two service levels: one is theservice of a best-effort type, and the other is the service of aguarantee type. Then, a low priority may be assigned to the IT devicecarrying out only the application program to provide the service of abest-effort type in comparison with the IT device carrying out theapplication program to provide the service of a guarantee type.

Further, the control device 11 has a function to compare the receivingpower amount P of the whole equipment received from the power meter 14through the communication cable 15 with a preset third threshold valueP3. The third threshold value P3 is set to be an even smaller value thanthe second threshold value P2. Further, the control device 11 has afunction to repeat a predetermined process with the receiving poweramount P in the range of not exceeding the third threshold value P3 whenthe above compared result shows that the receiving power amount P of thewhole equipment is detected to be below the third threshold value P3.The aforementioned predetermined process refers to a process forselecting an electrical device 10 as the object of power increase fromthe electrical devices 10 operating in an operational state other thanthat of the largest power consumption of the commercial power source,and sending a control signal to the selected electrical device 10through the communication cable 16 to switch the operational state ofthat electrical device 10 to that of a larger power consumption of thecommercial power source 12.

When selecting an electrical device 10 as the object of power increase,the control device 11 selects the electrical device 10 of the highestpriority from the electrical devices 10 operating in an operationalstate other than that of the largest power consumption of the commercialpower source 12. Further, when there are a plurality of electricaldevices 10 of the highest priority, the control device 11 preferentiallyselects the electrical device 10 operating in the operational state ofthe lowest power consumption of the commercial power source 12. Forexample, suppose there are eight electrical devices 10 of the highestpriority in total among the electrical devices 10 operating in anoperational state other than that of the largest power consumption ofthe commercial power source 12. Further, suppose five out of those eightelectrical devices 10 are operating in the low power consumptionoperational state, and the remaining three are operating in thesecondary battery operational state. In this case, the electrical deviceas the increase object is preferentially selected from the threeoperating in the secondary battery operational state. At the time, anarbitrary method may be employed to select the electrical device as theincrease object from the three candidates. For example, any one of thoseelectrical devices 10 may be selected on a random basis. Further, theelectrical device 10 of the largest load may be preferentially selected.Further, the electrical device 10 with the secondary battery at thelowest remaining battery level may as well be preferentially selected.

Each time the aforementioned predetermined process is carried out, thenumber of the electrical devices 10 to be selected as the object ofpower increase may be either one or more than one.

Further, the control device 11 may as well classify the electricaldevices of an identical priority into an identical group and, inselecting the aforementioned increase object, select one, more than one,or all of the electrical devices operating in an operational state of asmaller power consumption of the commercial power source from thoseincluded in the group of the electrical devices of the highest priorityamong the electrical devices 10 operating in an operational state otherthan that of the largest power consumption of the commercial powersource. For example, suppose there are two priorities: the high priorityand the low priority; the high-priority group includes five electricaldevices while the low-priority group includes ten electrical devices.Further, suppose two of the five electrical devices included in thehigh-priority group are operating in the low power consumptionoperational state, and the remaining three are operating in the normaloperational state. Further, suppose the ten electrical devices includedin the low-priority group are all operating in the secondary batteryoperational state. In this case, the control device 11 selects one, orall as the object(s) of power increase from the two electrical devicesof the high-priority group operating in the low power consumptionoperational state.

In the above explanation, the third threshold value was set to be afixed value. However, it may as well be set as a variable value. Whenthe third threshold value is a variable value, the control device 11 maydetermine the third threshold value by the following method, and utilizethe determined third threshold value to carry out the control withrespect to power increase of the electrical devices 10.

First, the control device 11 selects an electrical device 10 as theincrease object operating in the operational state of the least powerconsumption of the commercial power source from the electrical devicesof the highest priority among the electrical devices 10 operating in anoperational state other than that of the largest power consumption ofthe commercial power source. The number of the electrical devices 10 tobe selected as the increase object is set to be one, for example.However, more than one of the electrical devices 10 may as well beselected as the increase objects.

Next, assuming that the operational state of the electrical device 10selected above is switched to that of the one-level larger powerconsumption of the commercial power source, the control device 11calculates the difference between the power consumption of thecommercial power source for the electrical device 10 after switching andthat before switching. The calculation method may be arbitrary. Forexample, at the time of switching the operational state to that of theone-level larger power consumption of the commercial power source, someactual measured value and the like may be utilized as the basis to findout in advance how much the power consumption of the commercial powersource will increase for each electrical device 10, associating the samewith the identifier of each electrical device 10, storing the same intoa storage portion, and then finding the difference by referring to thestorage portion.

Next, the control device 11 determines the value of subtracting thedifference calculated above from the second threshold value P2 as thethird threshold value P3. Then, when the receiving power amount P fallsbelow the third threshold value P3, the control device 11 actuallyswitches the operational state of the electrical device 10 selected asthe increase object to that of the one-level larger power consumption ofthe commercial power source.

Further, the control device 11 has a function to control the timings forstarting and stopping the charging of the electrical devices 10 having asecondary battery. For example, under the condition that there is noelectrical device 10 operating in an operational state other than thatof the largest power consumption of the commercial power source, whenthe receiving power amount P falls below the second threshold value P2,the control device 11 sends an instruction to the electrical device withthe secondary battery at an insufficient remaining battery level throughthe communication cable 16 to carry out the charging of the secondarybattery. If there are a plurality of electrical devices with secondarybatteries at an insufficient remaining battery level, the control device11 may preferentially select the electrical device with the secondarybattery at the lowest remaining battery level. Further, the controldevice 11 may repeat selecting the electrical device 10 with thesecondary battery at the lowest remaining battery level, and instructingthe selected electrical device 10 to start charging the secondarybattery, with the receiving power amount P in the range of not exceedingthe second threshold value P2. By virtue of such kind of control, it ispossible to eliminate the bias in the remaining battery level among thesecondary batteries of the plurality of electrical devices 10, andmaintain the same at an equivalent level.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the process carried out bythe control device 11. Next, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the behavior ofthe first exemplary embodiment will be explained.

The control device 11 periodically receives the receiving power amount Pof the whole equipment from the power meter 14 through the communicationcable 15. The control device 11 compares the receiving power amount Preceived from the power meter 14 with the first threshold value P1(S11). When detecting the receiving power amount P to be over the firstthreshold value P1, the control device 11 carries out the followingcontrol to reduce the receiving power amount.

The control device 11 first selects an electrical device 10 as theobject of power reduction based on the priority of the electricaldevices 10 (S12). The control device 11 next sends an instruction to theselected electrical device 10 through the communication cable 16 toswitch the operational state to that of the one-level smaller powerconsumption of the commercial power source (S13). Then, the controldevice 11 compares the receiving power amount P to be receivedthereafter from the power meter 14 with the second threshold value P2(S14). The control device 11 repeats the loop process from step S12 tostep S14 until the receiving power amount P falls below the secondthreshold value P2. Then, on detecting the receiving power amount P tobe below the second threshold value P2, the control device 11 returns tothe process of step S11.

In the above manner, when the receiving power amount P of the wholeequipment exceeds the first threshold value P1 due to load increase ofthe electrical devices 10, by increasing the ratio of the electricaldevices 10 operating in operational states of lower power consumptionsof the commercial power source, the receiving power amount P of thewhole equipment is controlled to fall below the second threshold valueP2 which is lower than or equal to the first threshold value P1.

On the other hand, when detecting that the receiving power amount P ofthe whole equipment to be not over the first threshold value P1, thecontrol device 11 compares the receiving power amount P with the secondthreshold value P2 (S15). Then, if the receiving power amount P is notbelow the second threshold value P2, then the control device 11 returnsto the process of step S11 through step S16. On the contrary, if thereceiving power amount P is below the second threshold value P2, thenthe control device 11 determines whether there is any electrical device10 in the power reduction (S17). An electrical device 10 in the powerreduction refers to that operating in an operational state other thanthat of the largest power consumption of the commercial power source.

If there are electrical devices 10 in the power reduction, then thecontrol device 11 determines whether the receiving power amount P isbelow the third threshold value P3 even lower than the second thresholdvalue P2 (S18). If the receiving power amount P is not below the thirdthreshold value P3, then the control device 11 returns to the process ofstep S11. If the receiving power amount P is below the third thresholdvalue P3, then the control device 11 carries out the following controlto increase the power for the electrical devices 10 in the powerreduction.

The control device 11 first selects an electrical device 10 as theobject of power increase from the electrical devices 10 in the powerreduction based on the priority of the electrical devices 10 (S19). Thecontrol device 11 next sends an instruction to the selected electricaldevice 10 through the communication cable 16 to switch the operationalstate to that of the one-level larger power consumption of thecommercial power source (S20). Then, the control device 11 returns tothe process of step S11. Thereafter, when detecting the receiving poweramount P to be still below the third threshold value P3 (YES in S18),the control device 11 carries out the same switching control as abovefor another electrical device 10 in the power reduction.

By virtue of the control as above, it is possible to maintain a smallratio of the electrical devices 10 operating in operational states ofsmaller power consumptions of the commercial power source 12 with thereceiving power amount P of the whole equipment in the range of notexceeding the first threshold value P1.

Further, when the receiving power amount P of the whole equipment isbelow the second threshold value P2 and there is no electrical device 10in the power reduction (NO in step S17), the control device 11 selectsan electrical device 10 with the secondary battery at an insufficientremaining battery level as the charging object (S21). Next, the controldevice 11 instructs the selected electrical device 10 to carry outcharging through the communication cable 16 (S22). Thereafter, whendetecting the receiving power amount P to be still below the secondthreshold value P2 under the condition of the absence of electricaldevices 10 in the power reduction (NO in S17), the control device 11carries out the same control as above to instruct another electricaldevice 10 with the secondary battery at an insufficient remainingbattery level to start charging.

After the electrical device 10 completes the charging of the secondarybattery, it automatically stops the charging behavior. Further, eventhough electrical devices 10 having started charging the secondarybatter has not completed charging the secondary battery, it will stopthe charging behavior on receiving a charging stop instruction from thecontrol device 11 through the communication cable 16. When the receivingpower amount P of the whole equipment exceeds the second threshold valueP2 due to the increased load of the electrical devices 10, the controldevice 11 sends the charging stop instruction through the communicationcable 16 to the electrical device 10 charging the secondary battery(S16).

FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of the operational statetransition of the electrical devices 10. In the example of FIG. 3, thereare ten electrical devices 10 in total. Further, there two types ofpriorities: the high priority and the low priority. There are fiveelectrical devices of the high priority and five electrical devices ofthe low priority. The figure of three vertically piled-up quadranglescorresponds to one electrical device. Among the three quadrangles, theposition of the black painted quadrangle indicates the presentoperational state of an electrical device 10. That is, in the example ofFIG. 3, an electrical device 10 can take three operational states of thelargest, the second largest, and the least power consumptions of thecommercial power source.

At the time t1, all electrical devices 10 are operating in theoperational state of the largest power consumption of the commercialpower source. Because the load of the electrical devices 10 increasesand thus the power consumption of the whole equipment comes to exceedthe first threshold value P1, at the time t2, the operational state ofsome electrical devices 10 of the low priority is switched to that ofthe second largest power consumption of the commercial power source.Further, at the time of t3 when the load further increases, theoperational state of all electrical devices 10 of the low priority isswitched to that of the least power consumption of the commercial powersource. However, at both of the times t2 and t3, the electrical devices10 of the high priority are still operating in the operational state ofthe largest power consumption of the commercial power source. Therefore,the performances of the electrical devices 10 of the high priority willnot be lowered.

At the time t4, because it becomes difficult to restrict the powerconsumption of the whole equipment below the first threshold value P1only by the power reduction of the electrical devices 10 of the lowpriority, out of necessity, the operational state of some electricaldevices 10 is switched to that of the second largest power consumptionof the commercial power source. However, at the time t5, taking theopportunity of the fact that the load has decreased and thus the powerconsumption of the whole equipment has fallen below the third thresholdvalue P3, all electrical devices 10 of the high priority are operatingagain in the operational state of the largest power consumption of thecommercial power source.

According to the first exemplary embodiment in the above manner, whenreducing the receiving power amount of the whole equipment, it ispossible to prevent the electrical devices of the high priority includedin the equipment from lowering the performance in the same manner as theelectrical devices of the low priority.

A Second Exemplary Embodiment

Next, explanations will be made with respect to an equipment powermanagement system in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another control device 11 utilized in theequipment power management system of the second exemplary embodiment.Referring to FIG. 4, the control device 11 has, as the main functionalportions, a communication interface portion 111 (to be referred to as acommunication I/F portion hereinbelow), an operational input portion112, a screen display portion 113, a storage portion 114, and acomputation processing portion 115.

The communication I/F portion 111 is formed of a dedicated datacommunication circuit, having a function to carry out datacommunications with various devices such as the power meter 14, theelectrical devices 10 and the like connected through the communicationcables 15 and 16.

The operational input portion 112 is composed of operational inputdevices such as a keyboard, a mouse and the like, having a function todetect operator's manipulations and output the information to thecomputation processing portion 115. Various pieces of information areinputted from the operational input portion 112, such as theaftermentioned threshold information, priority information, differencepower between operational states, and the like.

The screen display portion 113 is constituted by a screen display devicesuch as an LCD, a PDP, or the like, having a function to display on thescreen various kinds of information such as the present operationalstate of an electrical device 10 and the like according to theinstruction from the computation processing portion 115.

The storage portion 114 is composed of storage devices such as harddisks, memories and the like, having a function to store processinginformation and a program 114P needed for various processes in thecomputation processing portion 115. The program 114P is a computerprogram to be read into the computation processing portion 115 andexecuted to realize various processing portions, and is read into thestorage portion 114 in advance from an external device (not shown) or anexternal medium (not shown) via the data I/O function of thecommunication I/F portion 111 and the like. As the main processinginformation stored in the storage portion 114, there are receiving poweramount 114A, threshold information 114B, priority information 114C,electrical device state information 114D, and difference power betweenoperational states 114E.

The receiving power amount 114A shows the latest receiving power amountP received from the power meter 14.

The threshold information 114B shows the first threshold value P1, thesecond threshold value P2 and the third threshold value P3 forcomparison with the receiving power amount.

The priority information 114C shows the priority of each electricaldevice 10.

The electrical device state information 114D shows various states ofeach electrical device 10. FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of theelectrical device state information 114D. The electrical device stateinformation 114D in this example has an electrical device ID, anoperational state, a secondary battery remaining battery level, and acharging flag for each electrical device 10. The present operationalstate of an electrical device 10 is described in the operational state.The charging flag shows whether or not the secondary battery is beingcharged.

The difference power between operational states 114E is the increaseamount of the power consumption of the commercial power source for thecorresponding electrical device 10 when switching the operational stateto that of the one-level larger power consumption of the commercialpower source.

The computation processing portion 115 has a microprocessor such as aCPU or the like, and a peripheral circuit, having a function to read inthe program 114P from the storage portion 114 and execute the same foroperation together with the aforementioned hardware and the program 114Pto realize the various processing portions. As the main processingportions realized by the computation processing portion 115, there are areceiving power amount acquisition unit 115A, a power reduction controlunit 115B, a power increase control unit 115C, and a charging controlunit 115D.

The receiving power amount acquisition unit 115A has a function toreceive the receiving power amount P of the whole equipment from thepower meter 14, and store the same as the receiving power amount 114Ainto the storage portion 114.

The power reduction control unit 115B has a function to carry out thecontrol for switching the operational state of an electrical device 10to that of a smaller power consumption of the commercial power source inascending order from the electrical device 10 of the lowest priorityuntil the receiving power amount P falls below the second thresholdvalue P2 when the receiving power amount P of the whole equipmentexceeds the first threshold value P1. The power reduction control unit115B obtains the receiving power amount P of the whole equipment fromthe receiving power amount 114A. Further, the power reduction controlunit 115B obtains the first threshold value P1 and the second thresholdvalue P2 from the threshold information 114B. Further, the powerreduction control unit 115B obtains the priority of each electricaldevice 10 from the priority information 114C. Further, the powerreduction control unit 115B refers to the electrical device stateinformation 114D to recognize the present operational state of eachelectrical device 10. Further, the power reduction control unit 115Bsends a signal through the communication I/F portion 111 to theelectrical device 10 of the reduction object to instruct the switchingof the operational state, and receives the response to the instruction.Further, the power reduction control unit 115B analyzes the receivedresponse and, according to the analysis, updates the operational statein the electrical device state information 114D. In particular, if theresponse is positive, then the operational state is updated just asinstructed; if the response is negative, then the operational state isnot updated. Furthermore, the power reduction control unit 115B has afunction to govern the general control with respect to the powerreduction in the second exemplary embodiment.

The power increase control unit 115C has a function to select anelectrical device 10 of the highest priority as the increase object fromthe electrical devices 10 operating in an operational state other thanthat of the largest power consumption of the commercial power sourcewhen the receiving power amount P is below the third threshold value P3,and switch the operational state of the selected electrical device 10 tothat of a larger power consumption of the commercial power source. Thepower increase control unit 115C repeats this function with thereceiving power amount P in the range of not exceeding the secondthreshold value P2. The power increase control unit 115C obtains thereceiving power amount P of the whole equipment from the receiving poweramount 114A. Further, the power increase control unit 115C obtains thesecond threshold value P2 and the third threshold value P3 from thethreshold information 114B. Further, the power increase control unit115C obtains the priority of each electrical device 10 from the priorityinformation 114C. Further, the power increase control unit 115C refersto the electrical device state information 114D to recognize the presentoperational state of each electrical device 10. Further, when generatingthe third threshold value by itself, the power increase control unit115C refers to the difference power between operational states 114Eneeded for the generation from the storage portion 114. Further, thepower increase control unit 115C sends a signal through thecommunication I/F portion 111 to the electrical device 10 of theincrease object to instruct the switching of the operational state, andreceives the response to the instruction. Further, the power increasecontrol unit 115C analyzes the received response and, according to theanalysis, updates the operational state in the electrical device stateinformation 114D. In particular, if the response is positive, then theoperational state is updated just as instructed; if the response isnegative, then the operational state is not updated. Furthermore, thepower increase control unit 115C has a function to govern the generalcontrol with respect to the power increase in the second exemplaryembodiment.

The charging control unit 115D has a function to select the electricaldevice 10 with the secondary battery at the lowest remaining batterylevel when the receiving power amount P is below the second thresholdvalue P2 under the condition of the absence of electrical devices 10 inthe power reduction, and send a signal to instruct the selectedelectrical device 10 to start charging the secondary battery. Thecharging control unit 115D obtains the receiving power amount P of thewhole equipment from the receiving power amount 114A. Further, thecharging control unit 115D obtains the second threshold value P2 fromthe threshold information 114B. Further, the charging control unit 115Drefers to the electrical device state information 114D to recognize theremaining battery level of the secondary battery of each electricaldevice 10 and whether or not the secondary battery is being charged.Further, the charging control unit 115D sends the signal through thecommunication I/F portion 111 to the electrical device 10 of thecharging object to instruct the starting of charging, and receives theresponse to the instruction. Further, the charging control unit 115Danalyzes the received response and, according to the analysis, updatesthe charging flag in the electrical device state information 114D. Inparticular, if the response is positive, then the charging flag isupdated to being charged; if the response is negative, then the chargingflag is not updated. Further, the charging control unit 115D receivesthe notification of the remaining battery level of the secondary batteryreceived from each electrical device 10 through the communication I/Fportion 111, and updates the remaining battery level of the secondarybattery in the electrical device state information 114D. Further, thecharging control unit 115D sends a signal through the communication I/Fportion 111 to the electrical device 10 charging the secondary batteryto instruct the stopping of charging when the receiving power amountexceeds the second threshold value P2, and receives the response to theinstruction. Further, the charging control unit 115D analyzes thereceived response and, according to the analysis, updates the chargingflag in the electrical device state information 114D. In particular, ifthe response is positive, then the charging flag is updated to chargingstopped; if the response is negative, then the charging flag is notupdated.

Next, explanations will be made with respect to the electrical device 10utilized in the equipment power management system in accordance with thesecond exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the electrical device 10 utilized in theequipment power management system in accordance with the secondexemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 6, the electrical devices 10 hasa main unit 101 consuming electric power, a power supply unit 102 (PSU)for supplying the power received from a commercial power source througha power cable 13 to the main unit 101 and a secondary battery 103 to becharged by the power supplied from the power supply unit 102 forsupplying the charged electricity to the main unit 101, switches 104 to106, a communication I/F portion 107, and a control portion 108.

If the electrical device 10 is an IT device, for example, then the mainunit 101 is composed of a CPU, memories, and the like. Further, the mainunit 101 can switch from a normal operation to a low power consumptionoperation requiring smaller power consumption than the normal operation,or conversely, switch from the low power consumption operation to thenormal operation. The low power consumption operation requiring smallerpower consumption than the normal operation is referred to as a powercapping function or a power cap. Generally, because the CPU and memoriesreduce the power consumption if their operating frequency is lowered, itis possible to adjust the maximum power consumption through a pluralityof stages by limiting the maximum operating frequency. Further, it ispossible to reduce the power consumption for the HDD and fan bydecreasing their rotation numbers.

The secondary battery 103 is configured by such as a lithium-ion batteryand the like. The power supply unit 102 serves to convert the AC powerreceived from the commercial power source through the power cable 13into a DC power of a predetermined voltage and supply the latter to theinside of the device. The communication I/F portion 107 is formed of adedicated data communication circuit, having a function to carry outdata communications with various devices such as the control device 11and the like connected through the communication cable 16.

The switch 104 is connected between the power supply unit 102 and themain unit 101. If the switch 104 is turned on, then power is suppliedfrom the power supply unit 102 to the main unit 101. The switch 105 isconnected between the secondary battery 103 and the main unit 101. Ifthe switch 105 is turned on, then power is supplied from the secondarybattery 103 to the main unit 101. The switch 106 is connected betweenthe power supply unit 102 and the secondary battery 103. If the switch106 is turned on, then the power supply unit 102 charges the secondarybattery 103.

The control portion 108 operates on the power supplied from the powersupply unit 102. The control portion 108 has a function to switch theoperational state of the electrical device 10 according to theinstruction received from the control device 11 through thecommunication OF portion 107, and a function to start and stop chargingthe secondary battery 103.

In particular, on receiving the instruction to switch from the normaloperational state to the low power consumption operational state, thecontrol portion 108 turns on the switch 104 and turns off the switch 105to switch the main unit 101 from the normal operation to the low powerconsumption operation. Further, on receiving the instruction to switchfrom the low power consumption operational state to the secondarybattery operational state, the control portion 108 turns off the switch104 and turns on the switch 105 to keep the main unit 101 in the stateof the low power consumption operation as it is. Further, on receivingthe instruction to switch from the secondary battery operational stateto the low power consumption operational state, the control portion 108turns on the switch 104 and turns off the switch 105 to keep the mainunit 101 in the state of the low power consumption operation as it is.Further, on receiving the instruction to switch from the low powerconsumption operational state to the normal operational state, thecontrol portion 108 turns on the switch 104 and turns off the switch 105to switch the main unit 101 form the low power consumption operation tothe normal operation. In whichever case, when the switching is carriedout just as instructed, the control portion 108 sends a positiveresponse to the control device 11 through the communication I/F portion107. Further, when the switching is not carried out as instructed, thecontrol portion 108 sends a negative response to the control device 11through the communication I/F portion 107.

Further, on receiving the instruction to start charging the secondarybattery, the control portion 108 turns on the switch 106 to startcharging the secondary battery 103 by the power from the power supplyunit 102. Then, when the charging is started just as instructed, thecontrol portion 108 sends a positive response to the control device 11through the communication I/F portion 107. Further, when the charging isnot started, the control portion 108 sends a negative response to thecontrol device 11 through the communication I/F portion 107. Further, onreceiving the instruction to stop charging the secondary battery, thecontrol portion 108 turns off the switch 106 to stop charging thesecondary battery 103. Then, when the charging is stopped just asinstructed, the control portion 108 sends a positive response to thecontrol device 11 through the communication I/F portion 107. Further,when the charging is not stopped, the control portion 108 sends anegative response to the control device 11 through the communication I/Fportion 107.

Further, the control portion 108 has a function to receive the remainingbattery level of the secondary battery periodically notified of from theelectrical device 10 through the communication cable 16, and update theelectrical device state information 114D.

The electrical device 10 shown in FIG. 6 has the power supply unit 102and secondary battery 103 for its own utilization. However, the presentinvention is not limited to such electrical device 10. For example, aplurality of electrical devices 10 may share the same power supply unit102 and secondary battery 103.

Other Exemplary Embodiments

Hereinabove, the present invention was described through the twoexemplary embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited tothe above exemplary embodiments only, but is possible to undergo variousother additional changes.

For example, the equipment power management system of the presentinvention may as well include electrical devices such as IT devices andthe like without a secondary battery. Further, the control device 11 mayas well be provide with a function to switch the electrical deviceswithout a secondary battery from the operational state of operating onthe power of the commercial power source to that of operating on alarge-capacity secondary battery set up inside the equipment, and switchit conversely.

Further, the control device 11 may as well be provided with a functionto control the facility power inside the equipment. For example, whenthe receiving power amount P indicated by the power meter 14 exceeds apreset power amount, the control device 11 may first turn off the lightsinside the equipment. Further, when the receiving power amount P exceedsthe preset power amount but the temperature inside the equipmentobtained from a temperature sensor set up inside the equipment is belowa preset first degree, the control device 11 may stop the operation ofsome cooling devices in operation, and restart the operation of thestopped cooling devices after the temperature exceeds a second degree.

Further, the equipment power management system of the present inventionmay as well have a self-contained power generator. In such a case, ifthe control in each of the aforementioned exemplary embodiments iscarried out but the receiving power amount P of the equipment stillexceeds the first threshold value P1, then the control device 11 maycarry out another control to start up the self-contained power generatorto provide a part or the whole of the equipment with the power generatedby the self-contained power generator.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the invention is not limitedto these embodiments. It will be understood by those of ordinary skillin the art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention asdefined by the claims.

The whole or part of the exemplary embodiments disclosed above can bedescribed as, but not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[Supplementary Note 1]

An equipment power management system comprising:

a plurality of electrical devices operable in any one of multipleoperational states different from each other in power consumption of acommercial power source; and

a control device for switching the operational state of an electricaldevice to that of a smaller power consumption of the commercial powersource in ascending order from the electrical device of the lowestpriority when a receiving power amount of the whole equipment includingthe plurality of electrical devices exceeds a first threshold valueuntil the receiving power amount falls below a second threshold valuewhich is lower than or equal to the first threshold value.

[Supplementary Note 2]

The equipment power management system according to Supplementary Note 1,wherein the control device repeats the process of selecting theelectrical device of the lowest priority as the reduction object fromthe electrical devices operating in an operational state other than thatof the least power consumption of the commercial power source, andswitching the operational state of the selected electrical device tothat of a smaller power consumption of the commercial power source untilthe receiving power amount falls below the second threshold value.

[Supplementary Note 3]

The equipment power management system according to Supplementary Note 2,wherein the control device preferentially selects an electrical deviceoperating in the operational state of a larger power consumption of thecommercial power source if every priority is identical in selecting thereduction object.

[Supplementary Note 4]

The equipment power management system according to Supplementary Note 2,wherein the control device classifies the electrical devices of anidentical priority into an identical group, and selects an electricaldevice operating in the operational state of a larger power consumptionof the commercial power source from the group of the electrical devicesof the lowest priority among the electrical devices operating in anoperational state other than that of the least power consumption of thecommercial power source in selecting the reduction object.

[Supplementary Note 5]

The equipment power management system according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 1 to 4, wherein the control device switches theoperational state of an electrical device to that of a one-level smallerpower consumption of the commercial power source in switching that tothe operational state of a smaller power consumption of the commercialpower source.

[Supplementary Note 6]

The equipment power management system according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 1 to 5, wherein the control device selects theelectrical device of the highest priority as the increase object fromthe electrical devices operating in an operational state other than thatof the largest power consumption of the commercial power source when thereceiving power amount falls below a third threshold value which islower than or equal to the second threshold value, and switches theoperational state of the selected electrical device to that of a largerpower consumption of the commercial power source.

[Supplementary Note 7]

The equipment power management system according to Supplementary Note 6,wherein the control device preferentially selects an electrical deviceoperating in the operational state of a smaller power consumption of thecommercial power source if every priority is identical in selecting theincrease object.

[Supplementary Note 8]

The equipment power management system according to Supplementary Note 6,wherein the control device classifies the electrical devices of anidentical priority into an identical group, and selects an electricaldevice operating in the operational state of a smaller power consumptionof the commercial power source from the group of the electrical devicesof the highest priority among the electrical devices operating in anoperational state other than that of the largest power consumption ofthe commercial power source in selecting the increase object.

[Supplementary Note 9]

The equipment power management system according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 6 to 8, wherein the control device switches theoperational state of an electrical device to that of a one-level largerpower consumption of the commercial power source in switching that tothe operational state of a larger power consumption of the commercialpower source.

[Supplementary Note 10]

The equipment power management system according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 1 to 5, wherein the control device selects theelectrical device operating in the operational state of the least powerconsumption of the commercial power source as the increase object fromthe electrical devices of the highest priority among those operating inan operational state other than that of the largest power consumption ofthe commercial power source, calculates the difference between the powerconsumptions of the commercial power source for the selected electricaldevice before and after switching on the assumption of switching theoperational state of the selected electrical device to that of aone-level larger power consumption of the commercial power source, takesthe value of subtracting the calculated difference from the secondthreshold value as a third threshold value, and switches the operationalstate of the electrical device selected as the increase object to thatof the one-level larger power consumption of the commercial power sourcewhen the receiving power amount falls below the third threshold value.

[Supplementary Note 11]

The equipment power management system according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 1 to 10, wherein each electrical device is an ITdevice having a computer.

[Supplementary Note 12]

The equipment power management system according to Supplementary Note11, wherein the priority of each electrical device is determinedaccording to the service level of the application program executed bythe computer.

[Supplementary Note 13]

The equipment power management system according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 1 to 12, wherein the multiple operational states ofthe electrical devices include an operational state for operating theelectrical devices in a low power consumption mode.

[Supplementary Note 14]

The equipment power management system according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 1 to 13, wherein the multiple operational states ofthe electrical devices include an operational state for operating theelectrical devices by a secondary battery, or an operational state forcompensating part of the power for the electrical devices by a secondarybattery.

[Supplementary Note 15]

The equipment power management system according to Supplementary Note14, wherein the control device selects the electrical device with thesecondary batter at the lowest remaining battery level and instructs theselected electrical device to start charging the secondary battery, whenthe receiving power amount falls below the second threshold value underthe condition of the absence of electrical devices operating in anoperational state other than that of the largest power consumption ofthe commercial power source.

[Supplementary Note 16]

The equipment power management system according to Supplementary Note15, wherein the control device repeats selecting the electrical devicewith the secondary battery at the lowest remaining battery level andinstructing the selected electrical device to start charging thesecondary battery, with the receiving power amount in the range of notexceeding the second threshold value.

[Supplementary Note 17]

An equipment power management method to be carried out by a controldevice connected through a communication cable with a plurality ofelectrical devices operable in any one of multiple operational statesdifferent from each other in power consumption of a commercial powersource, the method comprising:

switching the operational state of an electrical device to that of asmaller power consumption of the commercial power source in ascendingorder from the electrical device of the lowest priority when a receivingpower amount of the whole equipment including the plurality ofelectrical devices exceeds a first threshold value until the receivingpower amount falls below a second threshold value which is lower than orequal to the first threshold value.

[Supplementary Note 18]

The equipment power management method according to Supplementary Note17, wherein the control device repeats the process of selecting theelectrical device of the lowest priority as the reduction object fromthe electrical devices operating in an operational state other than thatof the least power consumption of the commercial power source, andswitching the operational state of the selected electrical device tothat of a smaller power consumption of the commercial power source untilthe receiving power amount falls below the second threshold value.

[Supplementary Note 19]

The equipment power management method according to Supplementary Note18, wherein the control device preferentially selects an electricaldevice operating in the operational state of a larger power consumptionof the commercial power source if every priority is identical inselecting the reduction object.

[Supplementary Note 20]

The equipment power management method according to Supplementary Note18, wherein the control device classifies the electrical devices of anidentical priority into an identical group, and selects an electricaldevice operating in the operational state of a larger power consumptionof the commercial power source from the group of the electrical devicesof the lowest priority among the electrical devices operating in anoperational state other than that of the least power consumption of thecommercial power source in selecting the reduction object.

[Supplementary Note 21]

The equipment power management method according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 17 to 20, wherein the control device switches theoperational state of an electrical device to that of a one-level smallerpower consumption of the commercial power source in switching that tothe operational state of a smaller power consumption of the commercialpower source.

[Supplementary Note 22]

The equipment power management method according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 17 to 21, wherein the control device selects theelectrical device of the highest priority as the increase object fromthe electrical devices operating in an operational state other than thatof the largest power consumption of the commercial power source when thereceiving power amount falls below a third threshold value which islower than or equal to the second threshold value, and switches theoperational state of the selected electrical device to that of a largerpower consumption of the commercial power source.

[Supplementary Note 23]

The equipment power management method according to Supplementary Note22, wherein the control device preferentially selects an electricaldevice operating in the operational state of a smaller power consumptionof the commercial power source if every priority is identical inselecting the increase object.

[Supplementary Note 24]

The equipment power management method according to Supplementary Note22, wherein the control device classifies the electrical devices of anidentical priority into an identical group, and selects an electricaldevice operating in the operational state of a smaller power consumptionof the commercial power source from the group of the electrical devicesof the highest priority among the electrical devices operating in anoperational state other than that of the largest power consumption ofthe commercial power source in selecting the increase object.

[Supplementary Note 25]

The equipment power management method according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 22 to 24, wherein the control device switches theoperational state of an electrical device to that of a one-level largerpower consumption of the commercial power source in switching that tothe operational state of a larger power consumption of the commercialpower source.

[Supplementary Note 26]

The equipment power management method according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 17 to 21, wherein the control device selects theelectrical device operating in the operational state of the least powerconsumption of the commercial power source as the increase object fromthe electrical devices of the highest priority among those operating inan operational state other than that of the largest power consumption ofthe commercial power source, calculates the difference between the powerconsumptions of the commercial power source for the selected electricaldevice before and after switching on the assumption of switching theoperational state of the selected electrical device to that of aone-level larger power consumption of the commercial power source, takesthe value of subtracting the calculated difference from the secondthreshold value as a third threshold value, and switches the operationalstate of the electrical device selected as the increase object to thatof the one-level larger power consumption of the commercial power sourcewhen the receiving power amount falls below the third threshold value.

[Supplementary Note 27]

The equipment power management method according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 17 to 26, wherein each electrical device is an ITdevice having a computer.

[Supplementary Note 28]

The equipment power management method according to Supplementary Note27, wherein the priority of each electrical device is determinedaccording to the service level of the application program executed bythe computer.

[Supplementary Note 29]

The equipment power management method according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 17 to 28, wherein the multiple operational states ofthe electrical devices include an operational state for operating theelectrical devices in a low power consumption mode.

[Supplementary Note 30]

The equipment power management method according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 17 to 29, wherein the multiple operational states ofthe electrical devices include an operational state for operating theelectrical devices by a secondary battery, or an operational state forcompensating part of the power for the electrical devices by a secondarybattery.

[Supplementary Note 31]

The equipment power management method according to Supplementary Note30, wherein the control device selects the electrical device with thesecondary batter at the lowest remaining battery level and instructs theselected electrical device to start charging the secondary battery, whenthe receiving power amount falls below the second threshold value underthe condition of the absence of electrical devices operating in anoperational state other than that of the largest power consumption ofthe commercial power source.

[Supplementary Note 32]

The equipment power management method according to Supplementary Note31, wherein the control device repeats selecting the electrical devicewith the secondary battery at the lowest remaining battery level andinstructing the selected electrical device to start charging thesecondary battery, with the receiving power amount in the range of notexceeding the second threshold value.

[Supplementary Note 33]

A control device comprising:

a communication interface unit for carrying out communications with aplurality of electrical devices operable in any one of multipleoperational states different from each other in power consumption of acommercial power source; and

a power reduction control unit for switching the operational state of anelectrical device to that of a smaller power consumption of thecommercial power source in ascending order from the electrical device ofthe lowest priority when a receiving power amount of the whole equipmentincluding the plurality of electrical devices exceeds a first thresholdvalue until the receiving power amount falls below a second thresholdvalue which is lower than or equal to the first threshold value.

[Supplementary Note 34]

The control device according to Supplementary Note 33, wherein the powerreduction control unit repeats the process of selecting the electricaldevice of the lowest priority as the reduction object from theelectrical devices operating in an operational state other than that ofthe least power consumption of the commercial power source, andswitching the operational state of the selected electrical device tothat of a smaller power consumption of the commercial power source untilthe receiving power amount falls below the second threshold value.

[Supplementary Note 35]

The control device according to Supplementary Note 34, wherein the powerreduction control unit preferentially selects an electrical deviceoperating in the operational state of a larger power consumption of thecommercial power source if every priority is identical in selecting thereduction object.

[Supplementary Note 36]

The control device according to Supplementary Note 34, wherein the powerreduction control unit classifies the electrical devices of an identicalpriority into an identical group, and selects an electrical deviceoperating in the operational state of a larger power consumption of thecommercial power source from the group of the electrical devices of thelowest priority among the electrical devices operating in an operationalstate other than that of the least power consumption of the commercialpower source in selecting the reduction object.

[Supplementary Note 37]

The control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 33 to 36,wherein the power reduction control unit switches the operational stateof an electrical device to that of a one-level smaller power consumptionof the commercial power source in switching that to the operationalstate of a smaller power consumption of the commercial power source.

[Supplementary Note 38]

The control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 33 to 37further comprising a power increase control unit for selecting theelectrical device of the highest priority as the increase object fromthe electrical devices operating in an operational state other than thatof the largest power consumption of the commercial power source when thereceiving power amount falls below a third threshold value which islower than or equal to the second threshold value, and switching theoperational state of the selected electrical device to that of a largerpower consumption of the commercial power source.

[Supplementary Note 39]

The control device according to Supplementary Note 38, wherein the powerincrease control unit preferentially selects an electrical deviceoperating in the operational state of a smaller power consumption of thecommercial power source if every priority is identical in selecting theincrease object.

[Supplementary Note 40]

The control device according to Supplementary Note 38, wherein the powerincrease control unit classifies the electrical devices of an identicalpriority into an identical group, and selects an electrical deviceoperating in the operational state of a smaller power consumption of thecommercial power source from the group of the electrical devices of thehighest priority among the electrical devices operating in anoperational state other than that of the largest power consumption ofthe commercial power source in selecting the increase object.

[Supplementary Note 41]

The control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 38 to 40,wherein the power increase control unit switches the operational stateof an electrical device to that of a one-level larger power consumptionof the commercial power source in switching that to the operationalstate of a larger power consumption of the commercial power source.

[Supplementary Note 42]

The control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 33 to 37,wherein the power increase control unit selects the electrical deviceoperating in the operational state of the least power consumption of thecommercial power source as the increase object from the electricaldevices of the highest priority among those operating in an operationalstate other than that of the largest power consumption of the commercialpower source, calculates the difference between the power consumptionsof the commercial power source for the selected electrical device beforeand after switching on the assumption of switching the operational stateof the selected electrical device to that of a one-level larger powerconsumption of the commercial power source, takes the value ofsubtracting the calculated difference from the second threshold value asa third threshold value, and switches the operational state of theelectrical device selected as the increase object to that of theone-level larger power consumption of the commercial power source whenthe receiving power amount falls below the third threshold value.

[Supplementary Note 43]

The control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 33 to 42,wherein each electrical device is an IT device having a computer.

[Supplementary Note 44]

The control device according to Supplementary Note 43, wherein thepriority of each electrical device is determined according to theservice level of the application program executed by the computer.

[Supplementary Note 45]

The control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 33 to 42,wherein the multiple operational states of the electrical devicesinclude an operational state for operating the electrical devices in alow power consumption mode.

[Supplementary Note 46]

The control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 33 to 45,wherein the multiple operational states of the electrical devicesinclude an operational state for operating the electrical devices by asecondary battery, or an operational state for compensating part of thepower for the electrical devices by a secondary battery.

[Supplementary Note 47]

The control device according to Supplementary Note 46 further comprisinga charging control unit for selecting the electrical device with thesecondary batter at the lowest remaining battery level and instructingthe selected electrical device to start charging the secondary battery,when the receiving power amount falls below the second threshold valueunder the condition of the absence of electrical devices operating in anoperational state other than that of the largest power consumption ofthe commercial power source.

[Supplementary Note 48]

The control device according to Supplementary Note 47, wherein thecharging control unit repeats selecting the electrical device with thesecondary battery at the lowest remaining battery level and instructingthe selected electrical device to start charging the secondary battery,with the receiving power amount in the range of not exceeding the secondthreshold value.

[Supplementary Note 49]

A computer-readable medium storing a program comprising instructions forcausing a computer to function as:

a communication interface unit for carrying out communications with aplurality of electrical devices operable in any one of multipleoperational states different from each other in power consumption of acommercial power source; and

a power reduction control unit for switching the operational state of anelectrical device to that of a smaller power consumption of thecommercial power source in ascending order from the electrical device ofthe lowest priority when a receiving power amount of the whole equipmentincluding the plurality of electrical devices exceeds a first thresholdvalue until the receiving power amount falls below a second thresholdvalue which is lower than or equal to the first threshold value.

[Supplementary Note 50]

The computer-readable medium storing the program according toSupplementary Note 49, wherein the power reduction control unit repeatsthe process of selecting the electrical device of the lowest priority asthe reduction object from the electrical devices operating in anoperational state other than that of the least power consumption of thecommercial power source, and switching the operational state of theselected electrical device to that of a smaller power consumption of thecommercial power source until the receiving power amount falls below thesecond threshold value.

[Supplementary Note 51]

The computer-readable medium storing the program according toSupplementary Note 50, wherein the power reduction control unitpreferentially selects an electrical device operating in the operationalstate of a larger power consumption of the commercial power source ifevery priority is identical in selecting the reduction object.

[Supplementary Note 52]

The computer-readable medium storing the program according toSupplementary Note 50, wherein the power reduction control unitclassifies the electrical devices of an identical priority into anidentical group, and selects an electrical device operating in theoperational state of a larger power consumption of the commercial powersource from the group of the electrical devices of the lowest priorityamong the electrical devices operating in an operational state otherthan that of the least power consumption of the commercial power sourcein selecting the reduction object.

[Supplementary Note 53]

The computer-readable medium storing the program according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 49 to 52, wherein the power reduction control unitswitches the operational state of an electrical device to that of aone-level smaller power consumption of the commercial power source inswitching that to the operational state of a smaller power consumptionof the commercial power source.

[Supplementary Note 54]

The computer-readable medium storing the program according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 49 to 53 further causing a computer to function as apower increase control unit for selecting the electrical device of thehighest priority as the increase object from the electrical devicesoperating in an operational state other than that of the largest powerconsumption of the commercial power source when the receiving poweramount falls below a third threshold value which is lower than or equalto the second threshold value, and switching the operational state ofthe selected electrical device to that of a larger power consumption ofthe commercial power source.

[Supplementary Note 55]

The computer-readable medium storing the program according toSupplementary Note 54, wherein the power increase control unitpreferentially selects an electrical device operating in the operationalstate of a smaller power consumption of the commercial power source ifevery priority is identical in selecting the increase object.

[Supplementary Note 56]

The computer-readable medium storing the program according toSupplementary Note 54, wherein the power increase control unitclassifies the electrical devices of an identical priority into anidentical group, and selects an electrical device operating in theoperational state of a smaller power consumption of the commercial powersource from the group of the electrical devices of the highest priorityamong the electrical devices operating in an operational state otherthan that of the largest power consumption of the commercial powersource in selecting the increase object.

[Supplementary Note 57]

The computer-readable medium storing the program according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 54 to 56, wherein the power increase control unitswitches the operational state of an electrical device to that of aone-level larger power consumption of the commercial power source inswitching that to the operational state of a larger power consumption ofthe commercial power source.

[Supplementary Note 58]

The computer-readable medium storing the program according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 49 to 53, wherein the power increase control unitselects the electrical device operating in the operational state of theleast power consumption of the commercial power source as the increaseobject from the electrical devices of the highest priority among thoseoperating in an operational state other than that of the largest powerconsumption of the commercial power source, calculates the differencebetween the power consumptions of the commercial power source for theselected electrical device before and after switching on the assumptionof switching the operational state of the selected electrical device tothat of a one-level larger power consumption of the commercial powersource, takes the value of subtracting the calculated difference fromthe second threshold value as a third threshold value, and switches theoperational state of the electrical device selected as the increaseobject to that of the one-level larger power consumption of thecommercial power source when the receiving power amount falls below thethird threshold value.

[Supplementary Note 59]

The computer-readable medium storing the program according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 49 to 58, wherein each electrical device is an ITdevice having a computer.

[Supplementary Note 60]

The computer-readable medium storing the program according toSupplementary Note 59, wherein the priority of each electrical device isdetermined according to the service level of the application programexecuted by the computer.

[Supplementary Note 61]

The computer-readable medium storing the program according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 49 to 60, wherein the multiple operational states ofthe electrical devices include an operational state for operating theelectrical devices in a low power consumption mode.

[Supplementary Note 62]

The computer-readable medium storing the program according to any one ofSupplementary Notes 49 to 61, wherein the multiple operational states ofthe electrical devices include an operational state for operating theelectrical devices by a secondary battery, or an operational state forcompensating part of the power for the electrical devices by a secondarybattery.

[Supplementary Note 63]

The computer-readable medium storing the program according toSupplementary Note 62 further causing a computer to function as acharging control unit for selecting the electrical device with thesecondary batter at the lowest remaining battery level and instructingthe selected electrical device to start charging the secondary battery,when the receiving power amount falls below the second threshold valueunder the condition of the absence of electrical devices operating in anoperational state other than that of the largest power consumption ofthe commercial power source.

[Supplementary Note 64]

The computer-readable medium storing the program according toSupplementary Note 63, wherein the charging control unit repeatsselecting the electrical device with the secondary battery at the lowestremaining battery level and instructing the selected electrical deviceto start charging the secondary battery, with the receiving power amountin the range of not exceeding the second threshold value.

1. An equipment power management method to be carried out by a controldevice connected through a communication cable with a plurality ofelectrical devices operable in any one of multiple operational statesdifferent from each other in power consumption, each of the electricaldevices consuming power supplied by a commercial power source, themethod comprising: switching the operational state of the electricaldevice to that of a smaller power consumption in ascending order fromthe electrical device of the lowest priority when a receiving amount ofpower of the plurality of electrical devices exceeds a first thresholdvalue until the receiving amount of power falls below a second thresholdvalue which is lower than or equal to the first threshold value.
 2. Theequipment power management method according to claim 1, wherein thecontrol device repeats the process of selecting the electrical device ofthe lowest priority as the reduction object from the electrical devicesoperating in an operational state other than that of the least powerconsumption, and switching the operational state of the selectedelectrical device to that of a smaller power consumption until thereceiving amount of power falls below the second threshold value.
 3. Theequipment power management method according to claim 2, wherein thecontrol device preferentially selects an electrical device operating inthe operational state of a larger power consumption if every priority isidentical in selecting the reduction object.